iSkin Solo FX Case for iPhone 4: review

by Christine Chan

Ever since I graced my iPhone 3GS with an iSkin Solo FX case, iSkin became one of my favorite companies for cases for my iDevices. Since they released the Solo and revo 4 a bit late for the iPhone 4, I have tried and tested them, and they proved to be excellent. But they’ve recently released the Solo FX for the iPhone 4, and it doesn’t disappoint.

The Solo FX is different from the version for last year’s 3GS model. Instead of being the traditional shell that wraps around the back and edges of the phone, the Solo FX for iPhone 4 is a flexible shell that you slide your phone in from the top. This is because this version has all of the front protected, leaving only the screen exposed with the top microphone and camera. The home button is also covered up with a layer of the flexible Microban TPU material.

So getting the iPhone into the Solo FX is easy, though I am not too fond of the opening flaps at the top, but that’s not a big problem. The TPU material is thick enough that it provides protection at the top as well. Once the case is on, it gives your iPhone a nice grip, and the circular texture pattern on the back makes it feel amazing to hold.

My favorite thing about the Solo FX is that it’s a frosty matte, so unlike the original Solo, it won’t get gunked up with skin oils over time. So the grip is always there and never gets slippery.

Like I mentioned earlier, the top of the phone is left exposed, but protected by the thick flaps. So the headphone port and power button are easily accessible. The volume buttons are covered by a bauble-like layer of the TPU material, while the ringer toggle is given a space to be accessed from. The bottom has holes for the microphone and speaker, while having a tight fitting opening for the charging port. 

There may be some slight problems with older cables since the opening is a tight fit with the new iPhone cable. I had to wiggle my car charger a bit to make it fit and stay when it would get slightly disconnected. So just a word of caution.

I did find that it can get a bit hard to press the home button down since it is covered with a layer of case. This just takes some getting used to and is not a major problem.

I found the overall experience with the Solo FX to be an enjoyable one. The case is not too thick but it is thick enough to provide great protection for your device. It also looks stylish with the circle patterned back and matte, frosty appearance. It provides complete coverage on the front of the screen so you no longer have anything to worry about. And you’ll always have a grip on your iPhone 4.

If you’re looking for a slim and stylish case that will give you great protection, look no further than the iSkin Solo FX.

rating: 4.5 stars out of five • price: $34 • iSkin.com

iSkin Solo Vu Case for iPhone 4: review

by Christine Chan

Do you want some sleek, fashionable chic style to go along with some serious protection for your iPhone 4? Then look no further than the iSkin Solo Vu.

The Solo Vu is a one piece shell that your iPhone 4 will simply glide into from the top, much like the Solo FX that I also reviewed. The Vu is similar to the FX except that it has a different back, colors,and has a cover for the charging port.

The Vu is a two-tone case, with the color in the front (black, red, or purple) and a smoky transparent, circle-patterned back that shows off the Apple logo. The material is the same as the FX, except the back isn’t a matte finish – it’s a bit more glossy. But the grip is good and I haven’t had a problem with natural oils gunking it up.

The Vu also exposes the top of the device since it glides in. The volume buttons get covered with the plastic material in the form of shiny little baubles, just like the original Solo and Solo FX. The bottom mic and speaker get perfect cutouts, and the dock connector gets another tight fitting opening. The nice little thing about the Vu is that there is a protective cover on the dock connector to keep out the annoying dust and moisture.

The front of the device is completely protected, with the plastic material covering everything except the touch screen and the top noise-canceling microphone and FaceTime camera. The home button is also covered by the case, so there may be a bit of getting used to since the material makes it a bit harder to press down.

When the case is on, you can feel secure about the protection of your phone. Everything that needs to be covered is, and it’s not too bulky and can slide easily in and out of your pocket. Chic style meets awesome protection.

The Solo Vu may look different than the FX, but it’s still the same premise. The dock connector cover is a nice touch though, and the colors make it look a bit more professional, which is a good thing.

So if you are looking for a professional style case that doesn’t sacrifice protection, the Solo Vu from iSkin is a good investment.

rating: 4.5 stars out of five • price: $39 • iSkin.com

review: iSkin revo4 case for iPhone 4

Those that are fans of silicon cases, you’re in for a treat.

iSkin recently came out with the revo4 for the iPhone 4, which is a two-color silicon pullover case for your iPhone. It’s a bit different than other silicon covers, since it covers the glass above and below the screen along with the rest of the phone. There is a space for the top camera and speaker/mic, but that’s the only exposed glass. Even the home button is covered with silicon for protection.

It was a bit weird to get on though – I had to pull the silicon over some corners before I could get it to fit. But the silicon material can stretch a bit and doesn’t look like it gets damaged as a result, so that’s good. Once the silicon is on the phone, there is an additional part of the case – the ViSOR Screen Shield. This is a piece of clear plastic that attaches on the front or back of the case by the side grooves.

The ViSOR doesn’t allow the screen to be used when it’s on the front, but it does protect it from scratches and dust when it is on the glass. When you need to use the screen though, the ViSOR can be attached on the back, which will give a bit more grip and protection. It’s pretty unique, and adds to the protection factor of the revo4. 

The revo4 gives your iPhone a good grip, while providing good protection in a nice looking package. But like all silicon cases, there may be bits of pocket lint and dust finding themselves onto the case since it isn’t the non-sticky type of silicon.

All of the buttons are covered in silicon, with openings only for the camera/flash, ringer toggle, and headphone jack. The charging sync port gets its own silicon plug to prevent any loose debris or dust from getting in the port though, which is great.

I did find it a bit weird to press the home button with the revo4 on though – the silicon felt a bit thick and I felt that there was less tactile feedback. As a result, I couldn’t really tell when I was pressing the home button. Or I couldn’t really hit the home button twice to bring up the multitasking dock. Perhaps this is because I’m not always a silicon skin user – I’m more of a plastic/rubber skin or two-piece sliding shell person myself.

For those that are fans of silicon cases and are looking for a good one to protect their iPhone 4 though, I’d recommend the revo4 from iSkin. It looks good, offers great protection, and feels good. Just be careful of getting stuff stuck on the silicon.

rating: four stars out of five • iSkin.com

review: iSkin Solo case for iPhone 4

Personally, I love cases that are one piece and easy to slip your phone in and out of – I guess these are more like ‘shells.’ I’ve also been a big fan of iSkin ever since I picked up the Solo FX back then for my 3GS. So I’m pleased to say that iSkin does not disappoint with the Solo for iPhone 4.

These are minimalistic yet sleek, gel-like skins that wrap snugly around your device. It comes in five colors, but they’re all translucent so that the back of your device will still be visible to everyone around you (proudly tout that iPhone 4!).

I found it extremely easy to get on the phone – just insert it bottom first and push the top in until the skin wraps around the device completely. The polymer material is slick on the back but the sides have a ‘frosted’ feel that add a nice, solid grip to the device.

The shell itself is pretty thin, so those that don’t like adding a lot of bulk to their phone will probably appreciate the Solo more than other cases on the market. I found my device able to fit comfortably in my pocket without any unnecessary bulk, and because of the smooth texture, I don’t see any pocket lint getting stuck on the case or device screen, which is great.

Most cases I’ve come across have the lip of the case pretty close to the edge of the front. I notice that with the Solo, the lip goes a little further in on the screen. I’m not sure why this is, but I feel that this could be better to prevent dust particles from getting under the skin and inside the case, possible scratching the glass.

The ringer toggle is given a small opening that could be a little hard to access without a nail (I tried). The volume buttons are protected by polished baubles that I found aesthetically pleasing to look at, and is definitely a unique look that I have yet to come across from other companies.

The power button is also protected by a shiny polymer bubble, though I found it feeling weird when pressing it since it’s flatter. The headphone port leaves plenty of space for whatever accessories you need to use. The back of the shell has a teardrop shaped cutout for the camera and flash so that it is non-obtrusive in your photos.

I did find one problem with the Solo and that is with the opening for the charge sync cable. I found that my older Griffin PowerJolt SE car charger had a bit of trouble staying plugged in to my iPhone with the Solo on. It wasn’t as bad as with the Apple Bumper, since that completely doesn’t work, but the plug kept slipping out due to the smaller opening of the Solo.

It seems that the Solo is better suited for the newer iPhone cables with the slimmer 30-pin dock connector. So just a word of caution – you may find yourself annoyed at getting older, wider cables to stay plugged in with this shell on.

Overall, this is a great looking, stylish shell for your iPhone 4. It’s easy to get on and off, provides enough protection while keeping slim, gives you grip, and also shows off your iPhone 4′s beauty with the translucent polymer back. Just use your older cables with caution. Once again, iSkin doesn’t disappoint with the Solo.

Highly recommended.

review by Christine Chan

rating: 4.5 stars out of five • iSkin.com

iSkin introduces new laptop bags for Mac and PC

iSkin unveils a new line of laptop bags that mix functionality with style. The new silo line includes three styles: silo Slim, silo Tote, and silo Messenger. There are also five different prints for the bags, consisting of Ami, Happy Friends, Karl the Ninja, Royal, and Digital Camo. Each fits up to a 15 inch laptop. The silo Slim is minimal and has a small pocket to carry goodies, while the silo Tote has two extra accessory pockets and two mesh pockets. The silo Messenger is for those busy individuals who take a lot of necessities with them. The bags range in price from $140 to $150 at www.iSkin.com.

review: iSkin Solo and Solo FX